{"id":10448,"date":"2022-01-18T15:53:03","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T14:53:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=162123"},"modified":"2022-01-18T16:05:10","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T15:05:10","slug":"how-ethel-smyths-march-of-the-women-became-the-anthem-of-womens-suffrage","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/how-ethel-smyths-march-of-the-women-became-the-anthem-of-womens-suffrage\/","title":{"rendered":"How Ethel Smyth\u2019s March of The Women became the anthem of women\u2019s suffrage"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By BBC Music Magazine\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Clad in purple and white brocade doctoral robes, on 21\u00a0January 1911 the composer Ethel Smyth<\/a> stepped onto the Royal Albert Hall<\/a> stage. She lifted her conducting baton to an overwhelming roar and the applause of thousands of suffragettes who had gathered to hear the world premiere her March of the Women.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a simple tune: joyful, in a major key, the lyrics encouraging women to \u2018Shout, shout, up with your song\u2019, and to \u2018Laugh in hope for sure is the end\u2019. From the moment it was first performed, her March became the official anthem of women\u2019s suffrage. It was sung across the world, in homes and halls, on streets and on the steps of the United States Capitol.<\/p>\n